Arnside and Silverdale

Went over to Arnside and Silverdale for the day. Went via Ingleton and amazed by the swathes of Ox-Eye Daisies growing on the verges especially near Whoop Hall, like snow drifts. Went up to Arnside Knott, lots of ants everywhere and saw a poor Harvest man covered in red mites. Visited Gait Barrows, saw a Brimstone Butterfly and a Speckled Wood. Felt like a hobbit walking amongst all the large Yew trees. The ground was crawling with Wood Ants and we came across two large nests about a couple of foot high that were a mass of activity with ants bringing in flies and ladybirds and yew leaves to add to the mound. Fascinating but I didn't feel inclined to stand still too long as they started to investigate rucksacks and cameras. Startled a reddish coloured deer and as we walked into a newly felled clearing we came across four fallow deer, one with little antlers covered in velvet, all were being horribly bothered by the flies we could see buzzing around them. Stopped off at Warton Crags on the way home to have tea and watched Jackdaws noisily wheeling around. Saw pale bird fly in and land on rock face and Jackdaws seemed agitated. Excitedly focusing on where bird landed in case it was a peregrine and just decided it was a pigeon when a peregrine flew in and tried to grab it. The pigeon escaped by a whisker and the peregrine took off after it, both unfortunately flying off behind trees. On drive home stopped off to look at wildflower meadow at Dalehead Chapel. Lots of Orchids, Yellow Rattle, Agrimony,Red Clover, and Lousewort. Barrie also managed to get a photo of a Chimney Sweeper Moth, which I'd not seen before.